An interview with Razan Ghazzawi

Last month, February 2013, Razan Ghazzawi was interviewed by Front Line Defenders where she talks about the revolution in Syria. She tells her story and recalls the personal toll it has taken on her and her colleagues from the Syrian Centre for Media & Freedom of Expression, how she and her colleagues were imprisoned, interwoven with the story of how "this revolution is starting to build consciousness for Syrians."

Three Syrian Media Centre staff remain imprisoned today for their work defending freedom of expression: Mazen Darwish, Hani Zitani, and Husain Ghrer. Two other detainees, Mansur Omari and Abdulrahman Hamada, were released in February 2013, after nearly a year of wrongful detention.

One thing that particuarly moved me was when Razan said,

"...Its not something easy to be insulted, it's a karameh revolution, it's a dignity revolution and to be insulted in your office by someone getting in with their rifles, its something unacceptable..."

Razan Ghazzawi Released

Razan Ghazzawi was released tonight. Her sister Nadine tweeted this earlier this evening :-)

#FreeRazan #Syria It's raining Razans… hallelujah :) It's official, sis is out! hopefully the same goes to all arrested sisters and brothers.

 I am happy for her release, and hope all other political detainees will be released soon.

Razan Ghazzawi Update

Razan Ghazzawi has now been charged with three crimes, according to this article in The Daily Star': “establishing an organization that aims to change the social and economical entity of the state,” “weakening the national sentiment, and trying to ignite sectarian strife," which could lead her with a prison sentence between 3 - 15 years.

Razan Ghazzawi

I start my first post of the month on Razan Ghazzawi, a 30 year old woman, who is well known for speaking out on Palestine, LGBT issues and of course on Syria via her blog and twitter account. She was born in the United States, though has never lived there but in Jeddah and in Syria.  

Razan Ghazzawi was recently detained by security forces in Syria near the Jordanian border (on the 4th December 2011). Close friends/family say that she was on her way to a workshop in Jordan organised by her employer, the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression, when she was arrested. One friend told Reuters, “She was arrested as she presented her passport to immigration at the Syrian border post of Nassib to cross to Jordan.” Her sister, Nadine Ghazzawi, recently joined Twitter, where she posts updates on Razan's arrest and subsequent detainment.

Raising awareness of Razan's case across the world, will highlight the abuses that Syrians face in Syria for writing the truth, highlighting abuses and asking for a better future. Razan Ghazzawi is amongst thousands detained across the whole of Syria. Please spend a moment dedicating a tweet or Facebook message or even mention to your friends. 

I shall leave you with a quote from Razan Ghazzawi herself:

"The Syrian regime does not fear those imprisoned but those who do not forget them."

Since when did silence serve us?

Thousands have disappeared in Syria under the Ba'ath party, in it's 42 year rule, especially since March 15th (though don't be disillusioned to think that many weren't detained prior to the uprising). Among the thousands are men and women, young and old, of various professions, including students. Why? To oppress people into silence; to not question authority or to raise their voice against a brutal regime.

I hope to make a blog post for those who have died, for those who have disappeared and also for those who have been detained, to honour their courage and bravery and also the sacrifices and risks they've taken for a better future for us all. I will never be able to do justice to any of them nor will I be able to cover the vast numbers who have been killed or detained though I do hope you'll bear with me whilst I'll try to cover as many as I can. As I've mentioned, thousands have been detained by the Syrian regime and many more whose whereabouts are unknown. I hope that by sharing individual stories, not only will we be able to honour each and every individual who's sacrificed so much for us, I hope that it will also vocalise a silent majority, who are still too scared to speak up their views; since when did silence serve us?

Yesterday, I wrote about Yaman Al Qadri, an 18 year old dermatology student at Damascus University, who was brutally assaulted and consequently arrested. I hope to continue to highlight the many people who've been detained, tortured and killed.

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Hussein Ghrer, a prominent Syrian blogger, disappeared after leaving his home on 24/10/2011. Circumstances of his arrest, condition and whereabouts are unknown, according to the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression. Days prior to his disappearance, he wrote on his blog: 

"Silence doesn’t serve us after today. We don’t want a country where we get imprisoned for uttering a word. We want a country that embraces and welcomes words." 

He also writes: “As bloggers, we have nothing but our writing to express a very little part of what hurts us so much. Our hearts ache in front of this monster that´s called corruption, protected by the force of security law, which is above any other law in this country.” 

His blog focuses on news about detained bloggers in Syria (his last post being on he arrest of Syrian blogger Anas Maarawi, who has since been released), the ongoing revolution, and Israel's occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territories, as well as other topics. 

Among his last words on his blog were “Note to intelligence and security forces: If you don’t like what I’m saying and you want to arrest me, send me a message and I’ll give you my full address so we can finish this according to your way.” 

Activists have put together a Facebook campaign calling for his release as well as calling for Syrian authorities to disclose information about Hussein Ghrer and release those detained in violation of the law and human rights. Follow the hashtag #FreeHussein on Twitter to follow more recent updates on his disappearance.

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